17 Trampled To Death: Massive stampede over boxer defeat

17 people were trampled to death in a stadium stampede in eastern Indonesia after a riot broke out following the defeat of a local boxer. The trampled victims included 11 women, according to youth and sports minister, Roy Suryo.

About 1,500 spectators left the overcrowded stadium to escape a riot, which broke out just before midnight on Sunday.

Suryo added that the Kota Lama stadium had a capacity of 500-600, and police said it had two working exits.

Thirty-two people are being treated at a local hospital for injuries.

Eighty-four boxers participated in the Bupati Cup Championships in the Papua province town of Nabire, Suryo said. The riot started after the final of the 128lb division between Alvius Rumkorem and Yulianus Pigome, who Suryo said were from different tribes.

Points awarded by a panel of judges to Rumkorem triggered protests by Pigome supporters, Suryo said.

Supporters of the losing boxer threw chairs at the judges, and the winner’s supporters responded by throwing bottles and broken chairs, panicking people in the stadium, said Lieutenant Colonel Gede Sumerta, a provincial police spokesman.

Police and soldiers were deployed to stop the fighting, Sumerta said, adding that police investigating the case had questioned 12 people — five organizers and seven witnesses.